Why Fox Soccer Channel Viewers Need To Subscribe To Setanta Sports

For soccer fans in the United States, it’s the $179.88 question. That’s the cost* for the next 12 months for hundreds of live football matches on Setanta Sports. But in these tough economic times, should you splash the cash? And, if not, what Premier League matches featuring your favorite club will you miss?

EPL Talk has the answers for you. Here’s our research based on the TV listings for Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta that have been announced as of press time (now through September 28 for complete listings, and through December 1st for what we know thus far):

ARSENALNumber of times on Fox Soccer Channel (FSC): 6Number of times on Setanta Sports: 4If you don’t subscribe to Setanta, you’ll miss the matches against these opponents: West Brom, Blackburn, Spurs and Man United.Verdict: No questions about it. Subscribe to Setanta so you don’t miss Arsenal against Spurs, and the Gunners against arch-rivals Man Utd.

ASTON VILLAFSC: 3Setanta:5Opponents on Setanta: Man City, Spurs, West Brom, Sunderland and Newcastle.Verdict: If you’re a massive Villa fan that needs to see most or all of their matches, subscribe to Setanta. But if you’re only a casual Villain, stick with Fox for Villa against Liverpool and Man United.

MIDDLESBROUGHFSC:2Setanta: 5Opponents on Setanta:Liverpool, Stoke, Sunderland, Chelsea and Everton.Verdict: Subscribe to Setanta. Boro is a bogey team against Liverpool and Chelsea, so be sure not to miss the spectacle of these surprise results.

NEWCASTLE UNITEDFSC:4Setanta: 4Opponents on Setanta:Bolton, Man City, Sunderland and Aston Villa.Verdict: Newcastle is one of the teams where the best matches scheduled on TV, thus far, are on Fox against Man United, Arsenal and others. Unless you’re a die-hard Newcastle fan, pass on Setanta.

WEST BROMWICH ALBIONFSC:2Setanta: 4Opponents on Setanta:Arsenal, Everton, West Ham and Aston Villa.Verdict: Baggies fans need to subscribe to Setanta Sports so they won’t miss the Birmingham derby against Villa.

WEST HAM UNITEDFSC:3Setanta: 6Opponents on Setanta:Wigan, Blackburn, West Brom, Fulham, Bolton and Liverpool.Verdict: Die-hard fans who can’t miss West Ham will need to subscribe to Setanta.

WIGAN ATHLETICFSC:1Setanta: 3Opponents on Setanta:West Ham, Chelsea and Everton.Verdict: The only Wigan match on FSC that has been scheduled thus far is against Man City. Subscribe to Setanta.

This post shows clearly shows how the tides have changed from Fox Soccer Channel’s firm grasp on the Premier League, and how the balance of power has shifted to Setanta Sports. Sure, Fox clings on to its best slot of the week when the biggest match is played (11am ET, Sundays) but Setanta has the first and best choices of the other games reducing Fox Soccer Channel to picking up the scraps.

If you have Fox Soccer Channel but don’t subscribe to Setanta Sports yet, here are your options of how to get Setanta:

So now you can see why you need to subscribe to Setanta Sports. And that’s just for the Premier League coverage. The network also features live coverage of the Champions League, Carling Cup, FA Cup, UEFA Cup, Championship League and much more.

* $179.88 is for a month-to-month subscription. You can save by buying an annual subscription for $149.99 to Setanta Broadband.

About Christopher Harris

Founder and publisher of World Soccer Talk, Christopher Harris is the managing editor of the site. He has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Guardian and several other publications. Plus he has made appearances on NPR, BBC World, CBC, BBC Five Live, talkSPORT and beIN SPORT.
Harris, who has lived in Florida since 1984, has supported Swansea City since 1979. He's also an expert on soccer in South Florida, and got engaged during half-time of a MLS game.
Harris launched EPL Talk in 2005, which was rebranded as World Soccer Talk in 2013.
View all posts by Christopher Harris →

Setanta Broadband is top notch….$150 for the season is the best deal out there
I wish I could get it on my cable package also…but will have to wait for that
Can watch games on the road which comes in handy for Champions League matches and you just can’t beat the studio analysis…of course, ANYTHING is better than a 30 second highlight reel and that awful music spliced in between Billy Mayshere and his latest as seen on TV dijjeridoo

No intention of hawking. Just trying to make sure that the readers know where they’re more likely to find their favorite team on TV — there’s less than three weeks before the season starts, so there’s still time to upgrade to DirecTV or get Setanta Broadband.

…Or you could download Match of the Day via bittorrent the night it’s broadcast in the UK and watch it at your leisure the next day. No good for live games but if you really have to watch footy second-by-second you’ve got bigger problems than I can help you with.